Janet, While I absolutely agree with everything your say, this advice needs a rider. It should say, "Pick one, if you want to be published."

I suppose you think that goes without saying but I got stuck between categories with the last-but-one novel I wrote. It was sci-fi. I was pretty sure it was sci-fi. But the publisher I ended up talking to (which is a sci-fi imprint of a major publishing house) said, "Meh, maybe not so much. It would be so much easier to sell internally if you could play down the sci-fi elements, then it would be lit. fic.." Or words to that effect.

The next novel I wrote, in the light of that experience, is sci-fi. Absolutely no argument.

What happens when the category doesn't exist? A comment from an agent on my current out to query project: chick lit with a gay narrator! Okay, so is it 'chick lit' (definitely not my intent) or is it a new category called 'gay lit' or is it the subcategory 'chick lit w/a gay narrator'. Aaaaagghhh - I think my head just exploded.

I understand your point, but I'm sure some authors query like that because they're not sure where their book will fit. What about a book that has been written for adults but whose main character is a teenager? Is it YA because the character is a YA, or is it adult because the issues are very adult, or is it historical because it's set in the middle ages? Confusing!

I just read your post about loglines, and I'm writing this here so you'll see it, Ms. Reid. Your frenemy, the slithery (and fun!) Barbara Poelle, gave me a funny logline in her thoughtful rejection of my manuscript: "Sisterhood of the Traveling Sweatpants." Not bad, and a pretty nice gift to go with the "no."

My old, decrepit, balding, but smart as a wip uncle person/non-fiction writing partner is teaching a creative writing course to children. I'm helping with the class blog. I've posted on of our young student's stories.

It would be very nice of you more experienced writers if you'd leave her a helpful comment. Be as pointed as you wish, just remember our students are children, middle-school age to HS freshmen. So be gentle too. If you remember that age, they're very insecure.

Just tell her who you are, what you write, and make what comments you wish.

The blog is http://thepixiewritersnest.blogspot.com/

Help me out here, please.

The PixieThe MommieThe Queen of GoatsThe Lady of TyposThe Owner of a Pet Scotsman (tough job)

Ummmm oh, yes, and the maker of delicious oat meal cookies, even if i say so myself.

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I'm a literary agent in NYC. I specialize in crime fiction and narrative non-fiction (history and biography.) I'll be glad to receive a query letter from you; guidelines to help you decide if I'm looking for what you write are below.
There are several posts labelled "query pitfalls" and "annoy me" that may help you avoid some common mistakes when querying.